You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, September 8). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0. You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
This play takes place in a small sewing factory in East Los Angeles in the summer of 1987. The play has a very small cast made up of only women. These characters include: Ana, Estela, Carmen, Pancha, and Rosali. They are in a lower class and their livelihood is entirely dependent on their jobs at the factory. They are all migrants and the four of them were recently granted legal residency in the united states. Estela is the only one that is still undocumented.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion occurs when Estela reveals she did not become a legal immigrant. The women all went through the process together, but Estela states she did not send in her papers because of her recent arrest and inability to pay her rent properly. Due to these issues she believed that she would not be able to be legal. The women in the play at this moment become extremely caring and sympathetic. They all work hard throughout the play to try and make an order to pay off her debts.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor of this play is that Estela was unable to send in her papers. This created the drama for the plays and allows for the women to work hard on the clothing order.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will the women remain legal citizens? Will Estela ever gain citizenship? Will they ever complete the order?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana has a lot of issues to struggle with in the play. First off, she is a feminist and has to work against issues facing women. This includes the perfect idea of a women that is shoved into people's minds, focusing on being extremely pretty and skinny. Also, she is a migrant. This makes her face the obstacle of racism, along with the constant internal fear that she or her friends and family can be deported.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The most theatrical moment by far in this play is when Ana decides to go against her oppressive society and social norms that bear down on her. At this point she strips down to her underwear to try and avoid the heat. This causes the rest of the women to follow in her footsteps, and reveals to the crowd that people are just people and looks are not what needs to be worried about. Estela quitting also causes a lot of drama because she is trying to escape from being a low class citizen.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The sewing shop is the most important image. It is old and kind of run down with a very simple setup. This is supposed to reflect to social and economic status of all the women involved.
Next is the image of all the larger women in their underwear is very valuable to the purpose of the play. It is saying that what anyone looks like has nothing to do with who they are.
Last is the dresses. These show the societal belief of beauty in being high end, colorful, and vibrant. This allows the women to show themselves that everyone is just people.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Self acceptance is a major theme in this play. Equality of race and gender and economic status are two other major themes.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
The dramatic action is based around family and friends helping each other in times of great need. This plays action relies on the women wanting to help Estela. I don't believe that family is redefined in this play, however the idea of how you should treat your family is.
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them on time (no later than Friday, September 8). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
This play takes place in a small sewing factory in East Los Angeles in the summer of 1987. The play has a very small cast made up of only women. These characters include: Ana, Estela, Carmen, Pancha, and Rosali. They are in a lower class and their livelihood is entirely dependent on their jobs at the factory. They are all migrants and the four of them were recently granted legal residency in the united states. Estela is the only one that is still undocumented.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion occurs when Estela reveals she did not become a legal immigrant. The women all went through the process together, but Estela states she did not send in her papers because of her recent arrest and inability to pay her rent properly. Due to these issues she believed that she would not be able to be legal. The women in the play at this moment become extremely caring and sympathetic. They all work hard throughout the play to try and make an order to pay off her debts.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor of this play is that Estela was unable to send in her papers. This created the drama for the plays and allows for the women to work hard on the clothing order.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will the women remain legal citizens? Will Estela ever gain citizenship? Will they ever complete the order?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana has a lot of issues to struggle with in the play. First off, she is a feminist and has to work against issues facing women. This includes the perfect idea of a women that is shoved into people's minds, focusing on being extremely pretty and skinny. Also, she is a migrant. This makes her face the obstacle of racism, along with the constant internal fear that she or her friends and family can be deported.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
The most theatrical moment by far in this play is when Ana decides to go against her oppressive society and social norms that bear down on her. At this point she strips down to her underwear to try and avoid the heat. This causes the rest of the women to follow in her footsteps, and reveals to the crowd that people are just people and looks are not what needs to be worried about. Estela quitting also causes a lot of drama because she is trying to escape from being a low class citizen.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The sewing shop is the most important image. It is old and kind of run down with a very simple setup. This is supposed to reflect to social and economic status of all the women involved.
Next is the image of all the larger women in their underwear is very valuable to the purpose of the play. It is saying that what anyone looks like has nothing to do with who they are.
Last is the dresses. These show the societal belief of beauty in being high end, colorful, and vibrant. This allows the women to show themselves that everyone is just people.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Self acceptance is a major theme in this play. Equality of race and gender and economic status are two other major themes.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
The dramatic action is based around family and friends helping each other in times of great need. This plays action relies on the women wanting to help Estela. I don't believe that family is redefined in this play, however the idea of how you should treat your family is.